Devices and methods for cell lysis and sample preparation through centrifugation

Abstract

Methods and devices for molecular analysis are disclosed, based on centrifugation. A centrifuge device comprises strips of centrifuge tubes and elements to create a magnetic field. The magnetic shear forces applied to beads inside a solution with biological molecules permit the performance of different analytic techniques, such as lysis and sample preparation for PCR.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centrifuge device comprising:
 a rotating head;   at least one centrifuge tube;   at least one slot in the rotating head, configured to accept the at least one centrifuge tube; and   at least one field element in the rotating head, wherein the at least one field element is configured to generate a magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one centrifuge tube has a filter configured to allow disposal of waste products, while retaining desired products. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifuge device of  claim 2 , wherein the desired products comprise chemically- and/or biologically-functionalized beads, and magnetic beads, wherein the functionalized beads are configured to attach to desired cells. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifuge device of  claim 3 , wherein the functionalized beads and the magnetic beads are configured to selectively and/or blindly capture the desired cells. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifuge device of  claim 3 , wherein the desired cells comprise nucleic acid within walls and/or membranes of the desired cells. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifuge device of  claim 5 , wherein the desired cells are for lysis or polymerase chain reaction. 
     
     
         7 . The centrifuge device of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one receptacle attached to a bottom end of the at least one centrifuge tube, wherein the at least one receptacle is for storing the waste products. 
     
     
         8 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one receptacle attached to a bottom end of the at least one centrifuge tube. 
     
     
         9 . The centrifuge device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one receptacle is for storing eluted nucleic acid products. 
     
     
         10 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one field element is a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. 
     
     
         11 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field direction is substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the at least one centrifuge tube. 
     
     
         12 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one row of slots, the slots configured to accept centrifuge tubes. 
     
     
         13 . The centrifuge device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one row comprises eight slots. 
     
     
         14 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radial arrangement of slots, the slots configured to accept centrifuge tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field comprises two perpendicular components, the two perpendicular components lying in a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of the at least one centrifuge tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The centrifuge device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one field element is fixed relative to the rotating head, and the at least one slot is configured to move through the magnetic field upon movement of the rotating head. 
     
     
         17 . The centrifuge device of  claim 3 , wherein the functionalized beads are non magnetic. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 providing the centrifuge device of  claim 1 ;   inserting a sample analyte in the at least one centrifuge tube, the sample analyte comprising cells, functionalized beads, and magnetic beads, wherein the functionalized beads are configured to attach to the cells; and   centrifuging the at least one centrifuge tube within the magnetic field, thereby causing shear forces between the cells attached to the functionalized beads and the magnetic beads, thereby lysing the cells, and thereby causing liberation of intracellular molecules.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising disposing waste products into a first receptacle attached at a bottom end of the at least one centrifuge tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising eluting the intracellular molecules into a second receptacle attached at a bottom end of the at least one centrifuge tube. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising binding of the liberated intracellular molecules to the functionalized beads. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the intracellular molecules are nucleic acids.